Vehicle-brake



NITE STATES PATENT T ()Fnrcs.

BENJAMIN F. RIOKARD AND WILLIAM H. RIOKARD, OF HARRISONBURG, AND SAMUEL S. MILLER, OF BRIDGEWATER, VIRGINIA.

VEHICLE-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,668, dated November 2Q, 1894.

Application filed January 12, 1894- Serial No.496,689- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN F. RIOKARD and WILLIAM H. RIOKARD, residing at Harrisonburg, and SAMUEL S. MILLER, residing at- 5 Bridgewater, in the county of Rockingham, State of Virginia, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Brakes, of which the following is a specification, reference beingv had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in brakes for vehicles and especially to that class known as automatic brakes for wagons and mining cars.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means by which the brakes shall be applied by the automatic shifting of the load as the vehicle is descending an incline; also by which thebrakes shall be automatically released as the vehicle passes from a descending incline to-a horizontal plane. WVith these and other objects in view, various novel features and combinations of parts are employed which will be hereinafter. more fully set forth and specifically pointed out in the annexed claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, whereinlike o lettersindicate corresponding parts in the several views,in which Figure 1, is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of a preferred form of vehicle with our improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2, is

an enlarged view of the forward portion thereof. Fig. 3, is an enlarged viewin detail showing the roller bearings of the bolster, and Fig. 4, is an enlarged plan view of the bolster showing the elongated opening therein.

0 In the drawings, A, denotes a vehicle of common form and so Well known in the art that a detail description is not deemed necessary, excepting certain portions thereof which are altered to enter into and form part of the present invention.

In the front bolster B, midway of its length a transversely extending elongated opening b, is formed and enlarged adjacent the upper surface of the bolster to form a seat 12 to receive a wear-plate h of an approximate elliptical form. This plate is preferably of sufficient thickness to occupy from one-quarter to one-half the depth of the seat and thereby allows for the insertion of the head of the main bolt, which latter projects downwardly in the usual manner to secure the reach pole a.

In suitablesupports c, c, projecting from front axle 0 is pivoted a lever O, with its upper extremity normally lying close in against the front side of the bolster B, and retained in such relative position by staple 0 Thus as the bolster is automatically shifted forwardly, it tends to force the upper end of the lever in the same direction and the opposite end rearwardly. This motion of the lower end of the lever is transmitted to the brake shoes c, 0 and reversed by an interposed rock shaft 0 and a connecting rod 0 The shaft is provided with terminal cranks c 0 the extremities of which work in slots c c .70 of the shoes, by which said shoes, when under pressure, automatically adjust themselves to allow for any unevenness of the periphery of the Wheels. Centrally of these cranks, c and projecting in the opposite direction is a third crank 0 which is coupled to the lower end of the lever O, by the connecting rod c Continuing the operation it will be apparent, that as the lever is thrown, its motion will be sufficient to rock the crank-shaft and apply the brakes, (see Fig. 2,) wherein the brakes areshown in normal position or released by full lines and in the adjusted position or applied by dotted lines.

The rear axle and wheels D, are given a limited independent movement by reason of the pin and slot connection (1, between the reach pole and the sliding combining head d of thehounds, which enables said parts to become simultaneously and at the same time automatically shifted, under certain circumstances to be hereinafter more fully explained. This movement of the rear portion of the running gear is similarly utilized to apply the rear brake shoes d 01 which are 5 connected by a bar 61 the latter being pivot-- allysuspended from the down-turned extremities d d of a rock shaft 61 and connected to the lower end of a lever (1 which is pivoted on a projecting arm d of the rear bol- 1co ster d bya rod d. The shaft 01 is mounted in suitable bearings 1 on a fixed cross bar (1. Thus, as with the front bolster, the motion is reversed by means of the interposed lever, connecting rod and swinging brake bar and the brakes applied.

The automatic shifting above referred to is accomplished by placing the load on the movable bolsters and by reason of the independent movement of said bolsters when the vehicle is running on a descending incline, the weight of the load will be ordinarily sufficient to carry it forward and apply the brakes, with more or less force, according to the weight of the load, as will be obvious.

As the vehicle with brakes on passes from a descending incline to a horizontal plane, or an ascending incline, the parts above described will automatically readjust thetnselves,and release the brakes, or more clearly stated, the instant power is applied to pull the vehicle, the load will prove self-adjusting in that it rides or moves rearwardly and by its lagging releases the brakes.

To prevent the application of the brakes when the vehicle is being backed or moved rearwardly, we employ a locking pin E-- which is adapted to be inserted in an opening eformed in the reach a adjacent the rear bolster, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

We do not wish to be understood as confining ourselves strictly to the exact construction herein shown and described, as various changes may be made in the detail of construction, without materially departing from the present invention.

The brakes may he applied to mining cars and the like by having a bolster and connections arranged as here described.

Having fully. described our invention, what we claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vehicle brake the combination of a bolster having an elongated opening, a main bolt engaging the bolster, and a lever pivoted with its end bearing against the front of the bolster and its opposite end connected with I the rocking shaft on which the brake shoes are mounted as and for the purpose specified. 2. In a vehicle brake, the combination with a bolster having an elongated opening, of a lever pivoted in suitable supports attached to the front axle, the end of said beam bearing against the front of the bolster, its opposite end connected by a rod to the shaft 0 terminal cranks on the shaft working in slots of the brake shoe as and for the purpose de scribed.

3. In a vehicle brake the combination with a bolster having an elongated opening, a lever pivoted in suitable supports attachedtothe front axle, the end of the lever engaged by the front of the bolster, its opposite end connected to the rocking shaft on which the brake shoes are mounted; a reach pole having aslot for the purpose of allowing the rear trucks to approach the front trucks, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. RIGKARD. WILLIAM H. RIUKARD. SAMUEL S. MILLER. Witnesses:

T. ASHBY LONG, P. S. THOMAS. 

